Arch support



June 14, 1955 s, B, SWADBURGH 2,710,462

ARCH SUPPORT Filed oct. `16, 1951 INVENTOR. .Samue/ .Su/adl/rs/J BY @MQW HIS AGENT ARCH SUPPORT Samuel B. Swadburgh, Portland, Oreg., assigner to Dale Belford, Portland, Oreg.

Application (Pctober 16, 1951, Serial No. 251,545

2 Claims. (Cl. 36 71) This invention pertains to arch supports, and relates particularly to an arch support which not only effects proper orientation of the foot bones relative to the body during walking and simultaneously affords effective massaging of the foot muscles whereby to prevent or correct the condition generaliy recognized as fallen arches, but in addition accommodates the use of the arch supports in shoes which are of the proper size forthe feet.

The proper walking cycle involves three successive stages: First, the foot is moved forward and the weight of the body is placed upon the heel. Secondly, as the body is projected forward, the weight of the latter is shifted along the outer longitudinal arch to the outer metatarsal bones of the foot. Finally, as the body moves still further forward, the weight of the latter is transferred to the inner metatarsal bones of the foot, the weight thus being impressed upon the inner longitudinal arch.

With the weakening of the muscles which support the bones of the foot, the condition generally known as fallen arches or at feet prevails and the foregoing succession of stages in the walking cycle is destroyed, as follows: As the body weight is placed upon the heel in the first stage of the step, the weakened inner longitudinal arch fails to support the heel bone in proper vertical position and, as the body moves forward to the second stage of the step the heel bone rolls inwardly. Thus, at the second stage the weight of the body is transferred improperly along the inner longitudinal arch to the inner metatarsal bones of the foot. in the final stage of this improper walking cycle the weight of the body is transferred from the inner metatarsal bones to the outer metatarsal bones, the weight of the body thereby being taken by the outer longitudinal arch.

Various devices have been developed heretofore in attempts to prevent or correct the condition of fallen arches. The use of all such prior devices presently known is attended by the principal disadvantage that the outer longitudinal arch of the foot is elevated out of contact with the inner sole of the shoe. By thus elevating said arch it has been necessary 'to build up the heel and metatarsal sections of these prior supports in order to restore the natural position of the arch. In so enlarging the thickness of the support the latter is rendered incapable of use with shoes of the proper size for a particular foot. By thus requiring larger sizes of shoes the feet are improperly contained, with the result that maximum comfort to the wearer and proper support of the feet is not achieved,

lt is a principal object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an arch support which permits the foot to rest in contact with the shoe, whereby to afford effective support of the foot within the proper size shoe.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of an arch support which functions to inhibit the lifting of the heel of the foot from the shoe during walkmg.

A further important object of this invention is the provision of an arch support which functions during the States Patent O 2,710,462 Patented June 1.4, 1 955 r"ce 2 first stage of the walking step to stabilize the heel bone of the foot in proper position for receiving the weight of the body.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an arch support which is of simplified and therefore economical construction, which is durable for extended use, and which provides maximum comfort to the wearer.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a plan view of a pair of arch supports embodying the features of this invention, the supports illustrated on the left and right hand sides being adapted for use in the left and right shoes, respectively, the various supporting pads therein being indicated by dotted outline and the position of the outer longitudinal arch of the foot being indicated by'dot-anddash lines;`

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2 2 in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3 3 in Figure l;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4 4 in Figure l; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5 5 in Figure l.

Referring to the drawing, each of the arch supports comprising the pair illustrated in Figure l is constructed of a bottom layer 1 and a top layer 2 of sheet material such as leather, cloth, plastic, or other suitable substance. Each support thus comprises an elongated body having an enlarged front section 3, an intermediate section 4 of reduced width and a heel section 5 which is usually somewhat larger in width than the intermediate section.

The elongated body of each arch support is preferably curved longitudinally in such manner as to present in plan view a shape which is generally concave with respect to the outer side of the foot. However, the inner longitudinal edge 6 which corresponds with the inner side of the foot need not be of the concave shape illustrated, but may be straight for certain specific applications and curved to greater or lesser degrees for other specific appli# cations. lt is important and essential, however, that the outer longitudinal edge 7 be of concave shape in order to provide the blank area on the outer side of the arch support intermediate the ends thereof, for, in accordance with this invention, it is across this blank'area that the outer longitudinal arch of the foot properly extends, as explained in detail hereinafter. In Figure l the position of. the outer longitudinal arch of each foot relative to its corresponding support is indicated by the bounding dot-and-dasn lines 8.

Interposed between the top and bottom layers in the front section 3 of the support is a resilient pad 9 Vsuch as sponge rubber, which functions to support the second, third and fourth metatarsal bones of the foot. The peripheral edges of the bottom and top layers of the front section are preferably skived in the tapered manner best shown in Figures 2 and 3. The outer margins of the foot extending outwardly beyond the edges of the support thus intercept the inner sole of the shoe along a thin edge, whereby maximum comfort to the wearer is assured.

A pad l@ is interposed between the top and bottom layers of the intermediate section 4 to function as a support for the inner longitudinal arch of the foot. This pad is formed in cross section in the shape of a wedge which is positioned with its thick end adjacent the inner longitudinal edge 6 of the support, as best shown in Figure 4. The pad thus tapers to a thin edge which terminates adjacent the outer longitudinal edge 7. The bottom layer 1 is preferably curved upwardly along the edge 6 to cover the thick edge of the pad lil. whereby to provide an attractive iinished appearance.

The pad 10 is preferably constructed of relatively solid material such as leather, plastic, metal or others, but it may be made of resilient material if so desired.

Interposed between the top and bottom layers of the heel section 5 of the arch support body are the heel pads 11 and 12. These pads are also wedge-shaped in cross section, as best shown in Figure 5, and may be constructed of any of the materials employed for pad 1G. The bottom layer 1 curves upwardly t0 cover the thick edges of these pads in manner similar to pad lil already described.

Pad 11 is preferably larger than pad l2, as shown, and is arranged adjacent the outer edge 7 of the heel section 5 to extend substantially the full length of the latter` Pad 12 is disposed adjacent the inner edge 'E of the heel section and preferably extends from a point spaced slightly rearwardly of the pad 1G to a point located a substantial distance forwardly of the rear end of the heel section, as shown in Figure l.

The pads 11 and 12 taper inwardly of the edges 7 and 6, respectively, from their thick ends to form a central recess 13 which extends forwardly from the rear end of the heel section 5 to the rearward end of the intermediate pad 10. The recess also extends to the portion of the skived edge 7 which extends between pads 1i) and 1i. In this manner the recess 13 functions with pads 11 and 12 to support the heel bone of the foot in proper vertical position, as explained in detail hereinafter. The recess functions with pad l) to inhibit forward slippage of the heel of the foot, as will be apparent.

In operation, a pair of the arch supports described hereinbefore are inserted in a pair of shoes, the support shown on the left in Figure l being inserted in the left shoe and the support shown on the right being inserted in the right shoe, as previously explained. rThe feet are then placed in the shoes and the latter secured thereto in conventional manner.

The heel of the foot rests upon the heel section 5 of the arch support with the heel bone positioned in the recess 13 formed between the wedge-shaped pads 11 and 12. The inner longitudinal arch of the foot is supported in properly elevated position upon the intermediate pad 10, while the second, third and fourth metatarsal bones are supported resiliently upon the metatarsal pad 9.

The outer longitudinal arch of the foot, indicated by the dot-and-dash lines 8 in Figure l., extends across the blank space provided on the outer side of the arch support adjacent the intermediate section 4. Thus, the outer longitudinal arch is permitted to rest naturally in contact with the inner sole of the shoe. The lieshy portion of the foot underiying the outer longitudinal arch also engages the edge 7 of the intermediate section of the support and thus secures the latter against slipping forwardly in the shoe, whereby to assure proper position of the support within the shoe at all times.

In the rst stage of the walking cycle the leg is moved forward and the weight of the body is placed upon the heel. ln the case of a weakened arch. the heel bone tends to roll inwardly. However, this inward rolling of the heel bone is prevented by the provision of pad i2, for the latter functions to brace the inner side of the heel bone. Any tendency of the heel bone to roll or slide outwardly is restricted by the opposing pad 1l which functions to brace the outer side of the heei bone. Thus, the heel bone is supported in proper vertical position and the weight of the body is directed in the proper straight line extending vertically through the center of the heel bone and ankle bone. Excessive strain on the inner longitudinal arch is thereby obviated.

As the body moves 'forward to the second stage of the walking cycle the weight is transferred temporarily to the intermediate portion of the foot. Any tendency of the weakened foot to roll inwardly at this stage is prevented `in part by the provision of the intermediate pad it) which 'Iii supports the inner longitudinal arch. Inward roll of the heel bone is also prevented at this stage because the heel bone is still supported by pad 12. Such support at this stage is achieved by virtue of the position of the outer longitudinal arch 3 in the blank space to the outer side of the intermediate section 4, for it is by this arrangement that the heel of the foot tends to remain in contact with the :eel section 5 throughout the walking cycle, rather than be raised therefrom in the manner attending the use of conventional arch supports.

ln the foregoing manner the heel bone is maintained in proper vertical position as the walking cycle progresses to the second stage. Since the foot is prevented from rolling inwardly, the weight of the body is transferred properly along the outer longitudinal arch to the outer fnctatarsal bones to complete the second stage of the walking cycle. Thus, excessive strain on the inner longitudinal arch is further obviated. By relieving the strain on the weakened inner longitudinal arch the latter is permitted to strengthen and is restored to its natural shape and condition of utility.

in the hnal stage of the walking cycle the foot is rolled inwardly across the pad 9 from the fifth metatarsal bone to the` first metatarsal bone. This action tends to massage and strengthen the muscles which support these bones. As the foot is rolled inwardly the muscles of the inner longitudinal arch are also massaged and strengthened by the variations in pressure of contact with the intermediate pad 1t).

From the foregoing it is apparent that the arch supports of the present invention provide for the proper support of the feet for prevention and correction of fallen arches, and it is a particular advantage of this invention that the supports are capable of use in shoes which properly lit the feet. This is made possible through the provision of the intermediate blank space adiacent the outer edge 7 ot the section e, for by thus permitting the outer longitudinal arch 3 to rest 'upon the inner sole of the shoe the vertical thicknesses required for pads 9, 1Q, and i2 are reduced to a substantial degree. The feet arc not elevated above the inner soie of the shoes except in the area ot the heei where the elevation is merely the thickness or the top and bottom layers of the support. A further important advantage attending the provision of the intermediate blank space is manifest in the ability of the support to maintain the heel of the foot in contact with the heel section 5 during the walking cycle. ln addition, the positioning cf the outer longitudinal arch in the blank space functions to secure the arch support against forward displacement in the shoe at all times during the king cycle.

skilled in the art that details described herein- .rt-.parting from the scope and spirit of this invention. For example, the arch support muy be construccd of nieta? sheeting with the various raised pads be.. g formed as raised impressions therein. As a further example. the sizes of the various pads may be varied within liriits proportionate to various sizes of ach supports and the positions of the pads may be changed to accommodate specific foot structures and ailments. it is to be understood, therefore, that the foregoing descrintion intended merely to exemplify thc present invention and is not to be construed in a limiting It will be apparent to those various changes in the ructural thout e sense.

Having now described my invention and the manner in which the same may be used, what l claim as new and edge to the outer edge thereof, the outer edge of the intermediate section terminating a substantial distance inwardly from the outwardmost edges of the end sections whereby to provide a blank space between said end sections adapted to be spanned by the outer longitudinal arch of the foot, whereby the intermediate outer side portion of the foot is caused to be supported in Contact with the inner sole of the shoe.

2. The arch support of claim l, wherein the elongated body is curved longitudinally along both side edges to concave shape with respect to the outer side of the foot, the curvature of the outer edge being of substantially smaller radius than the inner edge, whereby to form the said blank space.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Fenton Sept. 21, Ernst Apr. 16, Marshalek Sept. 17, Flynn July 12, Feldman Oct. 9, Shaw Jan. 25, Wysowski Feb. 28, Herbst Oct. 28, Hiss Sept. 2, Burns Jan. 13, 

